Zenith Defy Skyline joins Chronomaster Sport as a “waiting list” model

It is kind of a shame that a barometer for the success of a watch reference is when it is not readily available to purchase at retail. In an era of “unobtanium” Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, these super-hot brands all have standard-production watches selling at a premium due to their lack of availability. But this is typically not the case for most watch manufactures – even if they have some incredible propositions in their catalogue. That is why it was bittersweet to hear last week, courtesy of a Bloomberg interview with Zenith CEO Julien Tornare, that not only is the wildly successful Chronomaster Sport a waiting list model, but their new Defy Skyline now is too.

Julien Tornare explained to Andy Hoffman of Bloomberg: “We have a shortage and there is very little chance to get one without a long waiting time.”

This is bad news for those who have been saving up for, or are looking to score, a Defy Skyline to add to their collection. But, for better or worse, it is a good sign that the narrow-casted attention and tunnel-vision purchase interest towards brands like Rolex, Patek and AP is starting to shift. Facing an accessibility crisis with those aforementioned brands, rather than put up with enigmatic waiting lists and the erratic whims of authorised dealers, consumers are becoming more educated about their options and turning their attention to other great brands that often enjoy less public recognition. Zenith, in particular, appears to be benefitting from this of late.

It is clear that Zenith, and LVMH as a whole for that matter, have seen an increase in sales. Hoffman of Bloomberg explains: “Sales in the first 7 months of the year [are] up about 45% compared with last year’s record performance, which was highest since the storied Swiss brand was acquired by LVMH in 1999.”

With so many great watches out there for consumers to discover, beyond the references that achieved crossover success within the mainstream marketplace, I am thrilled to see other companies outside of the usual suspects garner greater and greater demand for their timepieces. Is it a shame that the Skyline and Chronomaster Sport will not be particularly easy to purchase at retail? Sure. But, is it a good sign that buyers are displaying more diversified interest? Absolutely.

You can read our full hands-on review of the Zenith Defy Skyline here.

Zenith Defy Skyline pricing and availability:

The Zenith Defy Skyline collection is available now for inquiries at Zenith boutiques and authorized retailers around the world. Price: $8,400 USD (for all models)